Ta Rules... Or at least the bare minimun to be able to ask for request.
After being isolated for the shadowban, I decided to broaden things a bit and topics for petitions.
Petitions can be on these topics:
Yandere - Platonic or Romantic
Angst - Platonic or Romantic
Flufff - Platonic or Romantic
They can be from these Fandoms:
Bruce Wayne
Dick Grayson
Jason Todd
Tim Drake
Damian Wayne
Alfred Pennyworth
Conner Kent
Clark Kent
Can be as:
It can be either the characters x the reader.
It can be about Superbat
It can be about Batfam or Superfam thoughts.
Peter Parker
Steve rogers
Tony stark
Marc Spector/Steve Grant/Jack Lockely (juntos y por separado)
Pueden ser tanto los personajes x el lector.
Puede tratarse de Tony como padre de Peter
Puede tratarse de que los Moonboys son hermanos or anything else
They can be requested as follows options:
*One Shots
*Headcanons
*Explanatory or opinion commentary.
In the case of these, PLEASE BE SPECIFIC. If you want a headcanon or commentary or one-shot on a specific theme or take a particular direction. YOU ARE ASKED TO SPECIFY WHAT YOU WANT AND IN WHAT WAY YOU WANT IT.
THINGS THAT ARE FORBIDDEN OR PROHIBITED.
When I say banned, I mean that as soon as I see a comment about it, I will not hesitate to delete the comment as soon as I read it.
Matters that require a very explicit explanation:
Domestic, family or partner violence
Substance abuse
Assaults on minors
Intimate abuse
Any type of paraphilia where someone is physically assaulted.
IT'S A BIG NO.
The only way I can write about it is if there is some mention of such an act in the past, but no such harm will be discussed or shown during the scenes written in the petitions.
Also I will seek to warn the reader before they read more in the publication.
current favorite pre bedtime scenario to imagine is Tom Ryder meeting Courtland mother fucking Gentry and being intimidated as hell. It's called a shovel talk for a reason and Court Means It when he says he'll bury Tom if he has to
The thing is, Ryland doesn't really know why Tom is so terrified of Court. The first time Court saw Tom was when Ryland invited him to dinner with Colt to catch up—and Tom wasn’t even there.
At dinner, after Court cut up his chicken as if he were six years old again—"Some habits are hard to break, Ry." "I don’t know what you’re laughing at, Colt; you asked me to open your juice bottle less than a minute ago"—Ryland felt he could finally open up to his older brother about Tom. Court didn’t say much, simply nodding every few minutes as Ryland recounted how his relationship with Tom started, their first date, and how Tom was trying to be kinder to Colt.
After that, Court himself—which was strange, considering his usual personality—was the one who insisted on inviting Tom to a family lunch. That was the only time Tom ever met his family. But it seems Court has a deeply intimidating gaze, because Tom can’t stop shaking or jumping whenever he hears Ryland mention his older brother, hears Court’s voice on the phone, or finds out from Colt that Court is visiting their flat.
Ryland knows his brother is stern, but he’s definitely not rude. The only time they met, Court offered him a beer, listened attentively to what he had to say, and—to both Ryland and Colt’s surprise—actually served him his portion of lunch himself.
Maybe Tom is just feeling shy. After all, Ryland only knows Birdie, Tom’s older sister, and she is—to put it mildly—the complete opposite of Court. That’s probably all it is.
Of course, what Ryland doesn't know is that Court managed to corner Tom while he and Colt were washing the lunch dishes. He grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered not only everything he knew about him, but also everything he knew about Birdie —all his and her dirty little secrets from their youth.
He went on about how he had an incredibly precise and lethal file on Tom’s medical conditions and past addictions—he did congratulate him, though, just to be cordial about his first years of sobriety—and how he knew exactly how much bullying he had put Colt through at work.
Court also made sure to stress that, if he so wished, he could make him disappear without a trace; all it would take was for him to find out that Ryland had cried because of Tom.
He added that he didn't even need to kill or torture him to make him suffer, and that he would much prefer this little "friendly chat" to remain a secret.
It’s not just that; we need him to act completely oblivious to anyone who sees him in that t-shirt, especially since it’s the one that says "I had potential." To top it all off—because Colt doesn't believe in divine retribution enough—Tom arrives smelling of Ryland’s favourite perfume... and only Colt knows it, as it’s the perfume he and Jody chose as a birthday gift last year. Dan has to grab hold of Colt, as Tom seems so pleased with Ryland’s t-shirt—so much so that he refused to take it off, despite his usual habit of doing so during his breaks when he’s not in costume. Colt nearly faints when, upon arriving at the flat, he sees Ryland wearing Tom’s yellow and blue striped dressing gown over his pyjamas.
Hey so yeah for my series on adopting an eridian with Ryland (you can find more about it on my ryland grace masterlist if unfamiliar), I've been doing hella research on Erid, Eridians, and also having to figure out behavior and biology of the pebbles because 1: I like to be accurate, and 2: Its fun :3
The basis for most of this is from the official PHM fandom Wiki, which most of that comes from Andy Weir himself. Additionally, I based a lot of the biology and behaviors on earth animals that primarily use echolocation, with baby bats as a main source of inspiration!
So anyways here is some of my shared research/headcanons/ideas that I'm going to be using for my fics!
The average pebble is around 5 inches in diameter. I did the math and using the ratio of a baby to an adult human (Which may not be the best animal ratio to use, but
Pebble's often get confused on their directions constantly. Eridians canonically are able to sense magnetic fields and inherently know which direction is North. Pebbles aren't the best at this quite yet, so they get confused a lot.
Object permanence is something the pebbles deal with as well. Their range of hearing is much smaller than that of an adult and are practically wandering blind half the time, and I want to think that this also applies to seeing through walls. They can't exactly see through walls just quite yet, as their hearing isn't that adept at doing so, so while you leave behind a wall, it may seem like you genuinely disappeared.
Pebbles cry whenever separated from a parent. Because of their survival instincts of wanting someone to watch them sleep, a pebble with freak out whenever a parent is not near them and will cry out for their parent. These cries get more desperate whenever they get sleepy or have just woken up and they are alone, as they do not feel safe and secure.
Baby food isn't that different from adult food. Adult eridians already have to butcher up a carcass and grind up the food into almost a paste. The main difference is that pebbles need it to be much more ground up, into practically a liquid. Additional nutrients can be given in the foods, such as certain minerals, usually for the carapace health of the pebble.
Pebbles like to babble. Just like almost all babies, they like to repeat back and mimic adults. This is how most babies learn how to speak and learn languages, so it only makes sense for the pebbles to babble too.
Pebbles molt/shed their shells as they grow. These outer layers are high in mineral value (same as their eggshells after they are born), and it is a common practice and encouraged for a pebble to eat their molt while they are still very young, as it is beneficial for their carapace health to maintain these minerals.
Molting/shedding is a difficult process. When the pebble is very, very young, you are able to help keep their skin moist to help gently ease off the outer layer. If these layers come off too early, it can be painful and cause bleeding and possibly cause malformations in future carapace growths. After they shed, their carapace is much softer, as it hasn't yet been exposed to the air. A moist environment is also helpful in this situation to help ease the hardening of the carapace.
Newborn pebbles eat once a day, compared to the adult feeding schedule being around a week or so. They cannot control ejecting the waste from their previous feeding cycle, so it is important to keep an eye on the pebble so that if they eject their waste, they can eat immediately, as their opening needs to seal as soon as possible to lessen any possible infections from the outside air.
Pebbles nap quite often. All eridians will go into a dormancy period after eating, as it conserves energy for digestion. Because of the frequent eating cycles, they will have a quick nap after eating. Because their opening is much smaller than that of an adult, who usually needs a few hours, a baby might only need an hour or so.
Pebbles also sleep for longer than an adult Eridian. Eridians sleep at irregular intervals based on availability on someone being able to watch over them. Since pebbles are almost constantly being monitored and are rarely alone, their intervals of dormancy and in-between dormant states are much shorter. They don't need to prolong the time in-between dormant states, unless prompted by the lack of monitoring. Usually, their dormant states are triggered after physical activity, such as playing.
When a pebble is sick or about to molt, dormant states are longer. This is due to the fact that they are needing to conserve more energy to prepare for a molt. Additionally, they need to be able to conserve energy for recovering from a sickness, so they will sleep for longer and with less time in-between these dormant states right before molting or when they are sick.
If you guys have any input or ideas, I'd love to hear your thoughts!!! I hope you enjoyed my yapping lol. I'll probably post more research into Erid as a planet, as I've done a bit on that too. Love y'all! - Saturn <3
Many people think—partly due to the management of his public image—that he’s an idiot. Right, fair enough, he can be a bit of a berk, and he only really enjoys being affectionate and patient with his beloved Ry-Ry. But he isn’t as thick as many people like to claim or believe.
After all—even though he’s been in the industry since he was a nipper—Thomas Ryder holds a university degree in acting and fine arts. He definitely has more than two brain cells to rub together, thank you very much.
But, as I was saying from the start, Tom dotes on his husband.
Ryland is, in more ways than one, the love of his life, the very reason for his existence, the light in his darkest moments, and—definitely—the reason he can actually perform in romantic films.
Gail had spent YEARS trying to get Tom to venture into romantic movies or series. His forte, until now, had been action plots—which is how he met Ryland, as he’d be visiting Colt on set—and war films. He’d also featured in historical dramas as a supporting character, war epics, or—occasionally—in comedy series as a recurring character (early in his career) or as part of the main cast (now that he’s at the peak of his career).
But he NEVER took part in projects with romantic storylines. And certainly not as a lead.
In action films, his characters would have some sort of romantic interest. But, since the plot didn't revolve around romance, he didn't really need to share many scenes with the other actor. And, to Tom’s total embarrassment, he admitted that those shots were always left until the very end, given how tense he would get whenever it was time to be affectionate with his co-star.
So... yeah. Tom might be a modern-day sex symbol, capable of flirting with the camera and being all lovey-dovey in interviews... but he couldn't be "believably" romantic on camera.
In fact, many casting directors used to tell Tom that... perhaps romance just wasn't his thing.
Because the man, to put it mildly, was dreadful at pretending to be in love with his castmates. Not to mention, he could be a bit of a numpty with the other actors, which made sharing scenes and photoshoots incredibly difficult.
Until Ryland came into his life.
And blimey, was everyone shocked.
Gail realised, because she’s not blind, that every time Ryland was visiting Tom and Colt on set, it was enough for Ryland to be standing behind the co-star of the moment for Tom to literally nail his lines.
It was almost a miracle. And she wasn't foolish enough to waste that new discovery.
His body (Tom’s) would become less tense, he’d appear more expressive, and his monologues for close-ups definitely flowed faster. Plus, he seemed much kinder to his co-stars—something the production team appreciated immensely.
Did the scene require Tom’s character to be on a romantic call with his love interest? They just had to put Ryland on the other end of the conversation, whether in person or via phone call. The editor would have to cut a few pet names, but nothing major.
Did Tom have to deliver a big romantic confession or gesture, where only he was on screen? But Ryland couldn't make it to the set? Colt—stupidly dressed in Ryland’s clothes with a photo of his twin taped to his face—would just stand where Tom could see him. And Tom would deliver the most romantic speech anyone had ever heard.
Did Tom have to film a scene where his character had to propose to his love interest? He just had to think about recreating the proposal he’d made to Ryland. But, if Ryland was right there, they’d simply dress him in the co-star’s clothes to get several takes of Tom and sort it out in post-production. (Makeup and art literally have a small collection of Ryland in disguise, with costumes, makeup, and wigs, as Tom’s co-star).
Did Tom have a scene scheduled where he had to run—that classic movie trope—after his girl/boy so as not to lose his love? Ha! They just had to tell him to imagine it was Ryland leaving him. The cameraman and his assistants had never run so fast in their lives.
The same went for any scene where they had an argument or Tom cried over the potential loss of his love interest. They only needed Colt to tell him that Ryland was upset with him for Tom to shed tears that looked genuinely convincing. Although, at the end of the day, you could catch him on an endless call with his Ry-Ry, as he wouldn't stop sobbing and Ryland would have to comfort him.
If Tom literally had to film any take where he had to show love, they simply had to tell him to imagine his co-star was his beloved Ry-Ry.
Gail’s most desperate measure, during one particular shoot, was putting a cheap mask on Tom’s co-star, since Ryland was on a school trip with their kids and couldn't get to the set or be on a call. It worked.
So, yeah.
Does someone need Tom to act romantically and affectionately with a co-star? They just need to call his husband. And, failing that, call his stunt double and dress him up as his twin brother.
(Imagine this is the face Ryland makes when he's on set with Tom; he finds it absolutely adorable watching his husband pull that look.)
When DuBois and Shapiro died in the accident, Eva realized that Olesya’s survival wasn't exactly guaranteed. Two of the best scientists in their field—experts in astrophage—had died when they least expected it. Just like that, two down. They were suddenly backed into a corner with no options left.
Don’t get me wrong, Olesya is a brilliant engineer, but while Grace would be forced to go simply because there was no time to find a replacement, what would happen if something happened to the only engineer on board? Ryland was a scientist, and although Yao could handle some things internally, there was no guarantee that Ryland and he could manage more complex repairs on their own. A second engineer was non-negotiable.
Eva spent hours in a manic search for a solution... and then, she found Simon’s file.
Simon Park. An engineer specializing in nautical engineering and submarine construction. A stellar CV: first in his class, top-tier university, and every elite program an aerospace engineer could ever dream of. And the best part? He had the damn gene. On top of that, he had absolutely no one to stay for. No parents, no siblings, no partner.
Just like Ryland, Simon was drugged first. Simon had refused to be a candidate, claiming it was useless since he lacked the proper training. While Ryland only had to be stopped at a fence, Eva took extra precautions with Simon—she spiked his drink. Simon didn't even know it was a one-way ticket.
Carl had already packed his things, grabbing a few personal belongings, and when they least expected it, Ryland and Simon both woke up light-years away from the Solar System... right next to the corpses of Yao and Ilyukhina.
Right to the plot:
And, for better or for worse, almost the same thing as the canon happens.
Simon knows who he is, but he quickly discovers that Ryland doesn't. They both have to perform the funeral service for Yao and Olesya, look at their ship's coordinates, and continue the mission.
They grow close. They become friends, even when Ryland starts to recover his memories in fragments and falls into depressive crises. Even when Simon becomes paranoid about the arrival of an alien mega-ship. Even when both Ryland and he don't know how to communicate properly with a rocky alien—Rocky—who knows nothing of privacy.
They grow close; they become best friends.
Simon even became friends with Rocky.
And the three of them spend good days, they explore a new kind of dynamic and "world" in the Hail Mary.
Even when he cries, because it is Ryland—now having recovered a large part of his memory, or at least the memory of his last years on Earth—who breaks the news to Simon that this was always a one-way trip.
Neither of them wants to die.
But it is Ryland who has to comfort Simon and Rocky. It's Ryland who has to said goodbye to his new alien friend while Simon is overjoyed with the idea of eating real ramen and fresh air.
He finds the solution... but then, Rocky's ship incident happens.
Simon saw the fear on Rylands eyes. He hate it.
Ironically, it is Simon who gives Ryland the go-ahead to turn back and return for Rocky. It is Simon who has to pull Ryland and Rocky out of the shattered connection nexus.
It is a miracle that Ryland and Rocky survived that day.
It is a miracle that the three of them are alive; it is a miracle that Simon and Ryland survive the trip to reach Erid.
Ryland and Simon grow increasingly closer; they become emotionaly intimate.
Ryland confesses his feelings to Simon one night, when they could finally celebrate being free of scurvy and on the road to recovery.
Simon rejects him. They remain friends.
A few years pass. They discover through a space probe that the astrophage beetles have reached Earth, and that the sun is not going to die.
Both of them are at peace.
Ryland starts teaching classes to the Eridian children; he seems happy. Simon, although glad to be alive... doesn't feel right.
Rocky notifies them—just like in the film—that his team of engineers has managed to create a reconstruction of the Hail Mary based on the blueprints. If both wish—considering that Erid isn't entirely suitable for long-term human life—they can begin a project to return to planet Earth.
Both of them have time to think about it.
Simon hears Ryland tell Rocky that, although he will think about it, he doesn't want to leave Erid. He has no reason to return to Earth.
Ryland only watches as Simon tells Rocky that he will keep it in mind.
That news arrived a couple of months ago.
Ryland notices that Simon begins to withdraw. He tries to ask, but Simon pushes him away.
Simon speaks less and less; he becomes increasingly volatile.
Ryland tries to find out what is wrong, but Simon keeps pushing him further and further away.
The situation escalates one day. Simon seems to be packing his things when Ryland arrives at the cabin they share. Ryland feels his heart sink when he realizes what is happening.
"You want to go back there," Ryland's voice is barely audible, as if it were painful for him to even say it.
"I do want to return to Earth."
The argument is huge. It is terrible. They both start saying hurtful things because, while one is hurt because he wasn't notified, the other doesn't understand why Erid would ever be considered a new home.
They yell more, they insult each other, they tell each other lies and painful truths.
The next day, Rocky and his team are working on the ship's reconstruction for a future launch. There is only one passenger on board. A one-way trip, no return.
Grace's hand itches after that argument.
Simon feels his heart clench—and his cheek aches—when he sees Grace (Ryland) helping the team, synthesizing all the food they can and making sure the new Nannybot has all the relevant information for Simon's health.
At no point has Ryland directed more than a few words at him.
The conversations they have are exclusively regarding what Simon needs to know to reach the International Space Station.
The probe announcing Simon's arrival on Earth has already been sent.
And then, just days before Simon is set to be put into a coma again... a notification arrives: an unidentified ship has entered Erid’s atmosphere.
Simon’s departure is postponed for security reasons; the Eridians confirm there is intelligent life inside the battered, makeshift spacecraft.
No response back, but yet, somehow, the spacecraft shows life indicators.
Ryland and Armando are swamped—they need to stabilize the poor man who was pulled from a literal sea of blood. Simon joins them, while also studying the improvised "tin can" that was launched into space. theat poor man, all cover in blood, barely alive, but yet... alive.
It’s a miracle the guy was even alive; his oxygen tank hadn't just run out, it had developed leaks long before, and the wiring was abysmal. They have to notify the rescue team.
Simon screams when he sees himself being carried into the medical wing.
Ryland doesn't have the time to scream; the torn arm and the oxygen deprivation seem to be making everything worse. Simon doesn't notice how Ryland is trembling the entire time, while the doctors attending to them rush in and out, performing the procedures necessary to stabilize his clone(?), his double?
Simon’s trip back to Earth is frozen indefinitely. Nobody knows where that space-can came from. Nobody wants to take the risk that Simon might be attacked while alone.
Simon stays by Ryland’s side, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. His double hasn't woken up yet, but the medical exams seem—all things considered—promising.
Ryland feels his heart breaking and mending all at once; he wants to vomit. It’s bizarre having two Simons—or whoever he assumes the injured man is, whether it's his Simon or something else—so close to him.
But he actually vomits after even daring to imagine the circumstances that could have led Simon—not his Simon—to end up in such a state.
For the first time in months, Simon comforts him while helping him get it all out of his system.
(Rocky, literally every time Pebble Grace asks him about his jumpers)
Pebble Grace! who adores being "covered up" because he can’t stand the idea of being without some kind of garment. He kicks up a fuss whenever Rocky or Adrian try to take away one of his makeshift jumpers. And he doesn't care one bit that he’s always bumping into things whenever he tries to walk around wearing one.
Pebble Grace! who, for some reason (without fully knowing why), still uses "human" motor commands for an Eridian body. That’s why he doesn't speak properly and struggles to move his limbs with any fluidity.
Pebble Grace! who, in reality, is "echolocation-nearsighted." He has to wear an orthopaedic device (the equivalent of prescription glasses) to get around on his own. But he absolutely loves being carried everywhere by Adrian.
Adrian and Rocky, being protective parental units with their little pebble. Because he’s so tiny and bumps into everything.
Adrian and Rocky, who can’t help but dote on Pebble Grace, because they find his attempts at chirping for the first time absolutely adorable.
Pebble Grace! who couldn't speak properly for at least a couple of years. He understood what Rocky and Adrian were saying to him, but when he tried to say it back... it was impossible for him to mimic.
Pebble Grace! who literally has no problem eating in front of anyone; he really doesn't get what the taboo is.
Pebble Grace! who, when he first started trying to speak properly (Adrian began taking him to a speech therapist because he wasn't speaking with the same fluency as his pebble mates), would just come out with unintelligible babble. And he’d get so frustrated he’d "cry." Rocky or Adrian had to act as his translators until he finally figured out the trick to pronouncing his thoughts correctly.
Pebble Grace! who doesn't hesitate to demand "Puppet Theatre" from Rocky to no end.
Pebble Grace! who loves playing in the Xenonite version of the Hail Mary and pretends to navigate it whenever Rocky is around.
Pebble Grace! who watches his own lecture videos from when he was human and gets frustrated because he wants to correct things in the video. Adrian thinks it’s dead cute to watch his little pebble trying to correct his "notes" (they're just scribbles that nobody can decipher, seeing as he still can't coordinate his limbs properly and lacks opposable thumbs).
I’ve only read a couple of fics where Grace is an Eridian nipper or a pebble.
And then, it hit me.
Grace kicks the bucket; his age and the sicknesses from being on Erid just overwhelm him at some point. And, mind you, Grace lived proper comfortably within the limits of what was possible, 'cause Rocky and the Erid medical lot and the boffins seemed to genuinely want to give him a bit of a life.
But, Grace survived so much gear: malnutrition, burns, knocks and bruises... at first it seems like he recovers, but as the years roll on, the damage starts to take its toll.
He lived longer than he was originally meant to, based on standard human life expectancy. But, obviously, by Eridian standards... Grace hasn’t lived long enough, has he?
I digress.
Grace passes away, the Eridians throw a funeral for him, and they put up a memorial statue at his grave inside the habitat dome they built for him. This dome stays open to the public for a bit of remembrance and for scientific and academic study.
The thing is, Rocky is clearly gutted by the loss of his human mate. And it takes Adrian an absolute age to pull him out of that depressive state.
For at least a couple of decades, Rocky goes almost every day to spend a couple of hours near Grace’s grave. It’s his way of finding a bit of solace.
Work getting a bit much? He heads to Grace’s statue. Had a barney with Adrian? He goes there to calm down. Want to hear the ocean waves where his best mate loved to swim? He’s there.
But then, tragedy strikes.
Since Grace’s dome had become open to the public, plenty of folk could get in. Usually, it was Eridian scholars or those wanting to pay their respects. But some Eridian committed a murder. The dome was shut to the public for the crime scene, then for decontamination.
For a couple of years, Rocky couldn't get in, as the contamination was proper rank and they had to restore a lot of the gear in the dome.
But it was enough.
When Rocky finally arrives at his usual spot inside the dome... the first thing he clocks is a tiny Eridian egg, half-hidden in a dodgy excavation in the disturbed earth of Grace’s grave. And, miraculously, the egg seems to be sound. Its shell and the earth seem to have protected it well enough.
All hell breaks loose.
The authorities rock up, wondering how any absolute shithead could do something so atrocious. An unhatched egg left in such a shambles. No one to blame, no one to take the fall. Whose egg was it?
Rocky refuses to budge from that tiny egg.
They haven't found a parent. The Eridian version of Social Services doesn't have a clue what to do with the egg 'cause they’re terrified it’s a dud, or that suddenly plunging it into Erid's atmosphere will snuff it out.
Rocky—with Adrian backing him up—decides to keep the egg.
And, weirdly enough, it seems to help Rocky a bit.
Adrian sorts out a nursery, a proper nest, some blinding toys, and anything else a pebble might need.
Rocky knocks the toys up himself, builds a kid's version of the Hail Mary in his cave (like a treehouse) for when the pebble grows up and can have a bit of a play. He makes sure there’s a load of recordings of Grace teaching his students available so the pebble can learn from the best teacher in the world.
But nothing happens.
A bit of time passes. Rocky and Adrian take turns keeping it warm, tending to it in the nest, slowly getting it used to the proper Erid atmosphere... well, they do what they have to do to make sure it becomes a healthy little pebble.
...And he’s the clumsiest pebble of the lot, tumbling and rolling about inside the nest until he ends up on his back. Rocky wanted to blub (just like Grace did), absolutely chuffed and overwhelmed seeing the little lad make it.
After staring at him for a few seconds, Adrian names him Grace.
Grace the Pebble! He doesn’t seem to have a cracking echolocation system. He needs Rocky and Adrian to even know where he’s got to inside his nest.
Grace the Pebble! Despite all the graft to get him used to the Eridian atmosphere, he’s... "soft" by stone standards. (I don't know much about rocks; someone would have to tell me what kind of stone is considered soft or malleable, but that’s Grace all over).
Grace the Pebble! He seems to feel both "cold" and "hot," always wanting to be wrapped up in something. And he starts squawking if Adrian or Rocky nick the blanket or cloth he’s wearing.
Grace the Pebble! Who doesn’t seem to have a shred of decorum when it comes to eat, seeing as he’ll tuck in right in front of Rocky and Adrian or any other adult looking after him.
Grace the Pebble... well, he’s anything but graceful, 'cause he’s incredibly clumsy; one of his paws is a bit dodgy, so he almost always uses four to get about.
Grace the Pebble!... when he finally learned to chatter, the first things he came out with were "Rocky" and "Mary."
It took a couple more years, and a fair few strops and therapy sessions. But both Adrian and Rocky realised that, somehow, Grace had come back to them.
Though, a tiny Grace the Pebble! telling Rocky that he’s a shameless, bossy git was all it took for Rocky to put two and two together.
Grace was back, with them.
(I imagined eridians eggs looks something like this)
But what if Simon got to Erid after Grace lived his life and died of old age?
***
He wakes up in a dome and doesn’t know where he is, but it warm here and he seems to be on the planet, not in space. Is it heaven?
He is in a house, Simon realizes. No, he corrects himself, he is in a home. Someone’s home. It is lived in, full of small trinkets and personal things. Soft pillows, a fox cardigan thrown over the chair. An assortment of pots with some rocks and greenery in them… Plants?
Simon rushes to them, touching small leaves and drawing a rugged breath. Alive. There is no other explanation. He is in heaven. He didn’t think he would be deemed worthy of it. After everything he’d done (and failed to do)… How could god be so merciful as to grant him this marvel? But here he is. Dead but finally at peace.
Simon spends hours near those pots. Simply looking at them. Basking in the light from the round window alongside this miracle of life.
Eventually though, he goes to explore the rest of the home. He finds the bed with a yellow blanket. Funny misshapen cups with three-pointed stars imprinted on them. T-shirts with absolutely horrendous jokes. Unfamiliar devices and a whole lad in the back. He finds an old battered laptop.
He finds videos.
“So, uh, I met an alien”—
“He’s kind of growing on me. At least not growing in me, you know? Which was a concern for a little while”—
Simon lets out a huff despite himself.
“His sun is dying too, so… maybe we can help each other.”
Dying? Are they talking about Quiet Rupture? Did they try to prevent it? He holds his breath, not quite comprehending what he sees.
“Hello Earth! I am Rocky. I am Rocky from Erid, I am not Rocky from movie, no no no no”—
Videos spin one by one. Way longer and way more than he anticipated. A whole life lying bare before his eyes. A life of two people who saved the stars.
Saved them.
“He’s looking at a long, slow, painful death. Alone. I can’t do both. I can go home...or I can save Rocky”—
“This is Dr. Captain Ryland Grace reporting from the Hail Mary.”
Saved each other.
Simon looks around for the first time in hours. The home looks different now. Now it has an owner. A face and a name to put on things.
He can now recognize the fox cardigan. And those silly t-shirts. Can tell that the three-pointed indents on the cups are Eridian’s handprints. He can’t name the devices in the lab, be he’d seen them being used. A pieces of a tremendous achievement. Tremendous life.
Home. Lived in. Cared for. A home for someone amazing. Someone who saved the stars (can he let himself believe in it?).
What did it mean for Simon? Did his sacrifice mean anything? He never aimed to save humanity or universe or the stars. You cannot save that which is long dead (and what was humanity if not dead? A rotting corpse slowly devouring itself). Was his mission even worth anything now? His pain? “Bigger than me”. He accepted it. Rage and pain and inevitability. Death.
Was it all in vain? Another life thrown away in an unending line of expendable people?
The stars were saved. Somehow. People had no use for that black box anymore.
Simon looks down on his missing arm. His mangled skin. Body covered in scars that will never fade.
Was it all in vain?
“🎶new human awake🎶”
Simon veers around, heart pounding loudly, ready to fight if needed be.
Eridian from the videos is standing in the doorway. Rocky? That was his name, wasn’t it?
“🎶Rocky brings food. Didn’t have human food for very long already. Needed to make some new. Takes much time🎶”
Simon stares at him trying to understand. A thought that persisted on the back of his head becomes clear suddenly. He is not dead. He is on Erid. That place where Ryland Grace went in the end to save his friend and a whole another planet. And Rocky is here. This person whom he just saw archiving the impossible.
Why isn’t Ryland Grace here? Is he afraid of facing Simon? The thought hurt a little, but at the same time was achingly familiar. People were always afraid of him. Simon didn’t get the name Butcher for nothing. Familiarity grounded him, despite being a gruesome reminder.
If people are still afraid of him, it cannot possibly be heaven. He is, indeed, alive. Somehow.
Like, Simon, at first, really thinks Grace doesn't want to see him because he's afraid of him. And, from what he knows or intuits from the things he can see inside Grace's home, he's a teacher.
Rocky insists he wear Grace's clothes, since Simon's are completely unusable and beyond repair. He introduces him to Armando—even with a little help from an old tutorial of Mary's—and includes him in the nannybot's recognition programming.
Rocky takes him for walks around the beach and teaches him everything he needs to know about Erid and the dome he's in. All because of Simon's initial shyness, fueled by his growing curiosity to know where on earth Grace is.
Grace lends him his house, his flyffly soft blanket, his clothes, and offers him food (Rocky doesn't tell him they're me-burgers), among other things.
Simon believes Grace is away at school and staying somewhere else, at least for the first few months, while he's still recovering.
Until, while timidly strolling along the beach… he sees a small memorial on Grace's grave.
And, for the first time, he sees the usually cheerful Rocky break down a little.
So. Let's just say I should be studying, but this peculiar idea popped into my head and now I'm completely obsessed.
-------
What do you guys think would be the plot changes or quirks in PHM if Grace were a woman? Like, I'm asking because it honestly sounds hilarious to me. Here’s my list of moments with a Fem!Grace:
1. When Grace tells Stratt that he and Carl "made a baby," referring to the cells.
But with Fem!Grace... Stratt is literally ready to castrate Carl because, for the first 4 seconds after hearing the news of the discovery, she thought Grace meant an actual human baby.
2. Her departure from academia is a bit more messed up than in canon.
Like, they probably labeled Grace as "hysterical." Especially after the insult she threw at that guy right in the middle of the conference.
But honestly, she probably didn't stop at just one insult; that poor waste of carbon definitely had to sit through a whole lot more unflattering earfuls.
I have a feeling Fem!Grace has a way sharper tongue than her male counterpart, considering she’s surrounded by a male-dominated field.
3. Once a teacher, always a teacher.
Like, I can totally see her being the scientist version of Miss Honey from Matilda.
All the kids love going to her classes. And I feel like the younger ones just follow her around like a bunch of little ducklings during recess.
I can even see her learning their slang. Which leads me to the next point: When she explains to the entire research team what they are looking for... she does it as if she were explaining it to her students. Stratt is deeply embarrassed and furious.
Except for one guy whose translator broke. And it’s hilarious to watch because she later realizes she’s talking to adults who actually know their stuff, and she just switches up her tone and speed on the spot.
4. She talked to Rocky like he was a toddler until she could figure out a way to set up the translation software.
And not just that, but because of Rocky's cute little hops, she tends to talk to him in a slightly higher-pitched voice when she just can't handle the cuteness.
Except for when she gets annoyed. Then she uses this ultra-professional tone that makes Rocky totally tense up.
5. Honestly, I think she loses her mind when Rocky rolls into her ship in his Xenonite hamster ball.
Mainly because Rocky trips over her makeshift underwear clothesline... and one of her bras rolls away with Rocky until he stops moving.
That, plus her total lack of privacy. And on more than one occasion she scolds Rocky, but she just doesn't have the heart to actually yell at him.
Also! I imagine her calling Rocky super cute nicknames.
6. For some reason, there's a whole section of the ship packed with tampons, wet wipes, and other essentials... but like, on an industrial scale.
So… I just had something pop into my head about the Coltland twins AU.
Since Colt is Tom's stunt double, he absolutely has to look like him. Like, everyone on set knows that wardrobe, art, and photography will make sure Colt's face, as such, never appears in a shot. At most, if it does appear in a shot, it's always when Colt is wearing sunglasses and a hat, which helps disguise his appearance.
But, in general, Colt just looks like Tom, at least physically. Same height or very similar, he has to be muscular, and if Tom has a certain hairstyle, Colt will definitely replicate it. They definitely have similar facial features.
And, I imagine Colt hates that. Not because he hates Tom—which he also hates, especially when he's being an idiot—but because the only person he likes to look like or copy is Ryland.
From childhood, they always wore the same clothes, had the same haircut, the same facial expressions, and the same mannerisms when walking, talking, or physically expressing themselves.
Even when Ryland was in college and he was already working as a stunt double or action extra… both Ryland and he found solace in seeing themselves reflected in each other.
And God! Only Dan and Jody know how miserable Colt was when Tom had to grow his hair long for a period film. To top it all off—and Tom wasn't too happy about it either—they both had to dye it a hideous shade of red. Tom couldn't wear a wig—Colt even less so—because the material clashed so much on screen. Even though the art department did their best to disguise it.
When Ryland saw it, he almost peed himself laughing. And then he screamed in terror, because he knew that if that style looked terrible on Colt, it would look even worse on him.
Transman Ryland Grace in the Coltland AU is amazing in the concept that Ryland and Colt are non-identical twins, and when Ryland transitions he ends up looking exactly like Colt and Colt is just like ‘uhhhhhh? Why do you look like me?’
Ryland: Somos gemelos Colt. tiene sentido que seamos idénticos.
Colt: No? No! Dios míos! tengo la nariz tan afilada?
Ryland: También tienes una barba de mierda. me pica muchísimo.
Hi! I have a question about the post where you wrote that Adrian finds Simon.
Does Rocky really hate Simon?
Also, why doesn't Simon attack Grace when he sees him in the medical wing?
Good question!
Er, I’d say it’s not that Rocky hates Simon. It’s more that he’s incredibly protective of Grace and Adrian.
Plus, it’s not exactly hate at first "sight" (?). Yeah, terrible pun.
When he first arrives and discovers that Grace won’t be the only human on Erid, he’s actually chuffed, since it means it'll be relatively straightforward to accommodate him. Even more so considering that Ryland was starving because he’d been running out of food over the last few years.
And you’ve got to consider that, during the trip to Erid, Ryland probably taught him a lot of things that hadn't been fully discussed at the time.
Now he has a much better understanding of what radiation can do to someone, especially if they’ve been exposed to prolonged radiation and are in contact with people who aren’t properly protected.
So, if we focus just on that tiny detail about Simon being in a battered, outdated space tin... we can assume that when he arrived on Erid, he was completely riddled with radiation and ill because of it. Rocky would’ve read those files once on Erid and been absolutely horrified—not just to read firsthand that Simon is still a bit contaminated, but that Adrian interacted directly with him! Without the proper protective measures!
Now, to top off that mini heart attack Rocky just had... Simon’s medical records state that he displays hostile behaviour.
Adrian manages to explain, as best as he can—bearing in mind that Simon and Adrian communicate differently compared to Ryland and Rocky—that Simon has clearly had an awful time, which makes a bit of sense given the severity of his injuries. Simon has his trust issues.
But Simon’s records, unfortunately, aren’t great. On several occasions, he tried to smash his habitat dome, or he’d scream and throw everything the Eridian nurses and doctors offered him. Although hostile, he’s less aggressive with Adrian, once they managed to understand each other and Simon realised Adrian didn’t want to hurt him.
And that’s not even mentioning that, even with an amputated arm, Simon is still pretty strong. Or, at least, even while ill and all that, he’s stronger than Ryland.
All of these are the factors that make Rocky so cautious around Simon. Because even if he’s at a disadvantage, he might attack if he feels threatened. And, let’s face it, Rocky knows Ryland will want to meet the other human without really thinking about the consequences.
Right!
Obviously, due to limited resources at first—bear in mind that Simon was probably stuck somewhere pitch-black, with oxygen but absolutely zero comfort, given that his ship was a total piece of rubbish to begin with—until the scientists could replicate more things, it was essential for Simon and Ryland to be kept together.
Both of them medically induced into comas, but together.
Because they realised it wasn't a good idea for Simon to be completely under all the time, he was the only one who woke up periodically. It was probably during one of those conscious phases, when they allowed him to be awake, that he saw Ryland by chance.
Let's add that, from Simon's perspective when he first caught a glimpse of Ryland by chance before being force to sleep again, Simon sees Ryland in a coma. This makes him realise that Ryland is, in a way, in the exact same boat: he’s on a strange planet, surrounded by unknown creatures, badly injured, and—to top it all off—unconscious.
And it was a proper nightmare: he’d always wake up in a new "enclosure"—more comfortable and with better care, but totally unfamiliar—with new carers, and he struggled to tell the difference between a medical check-up and an attack. Adrian being the only some of confort that he had.
Ryland, on the other hand, had to stay in a continuous coma until Armando gave the green light to wake him up. They wanted him to have more nutrients so they could actually work with him.
Surely, once they woke him up for good so he could adjust better to his future personal habitat... when he broke out and saw Ryland being tended to by an Eridian nurse, he just did the first thing that popped into his head: protect this other human from these rocky aliens.
Let’s not forget, Simon has his trust issues—which are completely justified. And due to his own hostile behaviour, the Eridians have been rather cold with him too.
Simon simply saw another human in the exact same boat—on a stretcher, looking frail and ill, and about to be poked at by some rocky alien—and tried to defend him.
I keep thinking about the fact that Eridians seem so much stronger and sturdier than humans, so what humans-are-space-orcs thing could Grace even do that would freak Rocky out... and then I remembered humans are persistence predators.
So picture some years in the future when the xenonite suits are so safe that Grace's class can now take field trips into his biodome. Rocky's there because this is a big moment for everyone involved and also he just loves listening to Grace in his element. One of the more mischievous kids tries to sneak off from the group and there are plenty of chaperones but Grace is the first to notice.
His posture changes, goes focused but loose in a way Rocky's never seen before as he peels of from the crowd. Rocky just stands there, stunned, as he watches his sweet, gangly, goofy, clumsy blob of a friend turn into a hunter. Grace circles around the pebble, slightly crouched, head turned and honed in, arms loose to the sides, and maybe the little one notices and does that nervously excited giggle-squeal thing kids do when they're being chased and tries to get away, but Grace expertly corrals them. He doesn't even have to run for it, he just pens the kid in, lunges-
And takes the little pebble by the claw to lead them safely back to their peers. And just like that he's Grace again, smiling and joking and tripping over his improvised shoelaces. Rocky hasn't been scared of Grace since first contact. Have you seen the guy? ... but for a second there his instincts were telling him to run.
The thing is, for now, they’ve always mentioned that Ryland is seen as soft and "leaky/wet" by Rocky whenever other Eridians ask about him.
Plus, Ryland is openly clumsy, emotional, and seems to adore teaching and being gentle with children. Sure, they know he’s brave and terrifyingly intelligent—he didn’t achieve what he achieved for nothing.
But it’s when other Eridians ask about human evolution that they start to get a bit scared.
The fact that the human species developed ocular vision just to be able to navigate is quite something. Because, even if it's deficient by Eridian standards, apparently the environment and the human race needed something more than just sound and touch stimuli.
Whenever small rocks or pebbles found their way into the human habitat, Ryland seemed capable of "herding" them so they wouldn't wander too far. Also, on the rare occasions Ryland left his habitat in his suit to walk around Erid (a custom suit with special light generators so he could move and withstand the pressure), he seemed to move with a caution similar to that of a predator.
And another thing? His voice. Ugh.
His vocal cords were mediocre at best. But they could easily recognise the inflections of his emotions.
Ryland was incapable of speaking Eridian properly. He was highly limited. He always used his translator to avoid misunderstandings.
But bloody hell, they once saw him arguing with Rocky.
Rocky was practically cornered by the soft human. Ryland’s shouting and his sharp, biting tone only became more terrifying when they noticed how he was leaning over the other Eridian. And it was only because he’d been interrupted by the scientist that he noticed Ryland was practically in attack-and-hunt mode.
As if his body was instinctively ready to strike at the slightest right stimulus.
Only for him to completely relax and snap right back into that friendly tone the moment he noticed someone else’s presence.
And his reflexes? Terrifying. If his cup was about to fall? Or if one of his children had rushed too quickly up a mound?
Ryland would sprint at a terrifying speed to catch the object
Do not touch my ex/husband!
Crossover! Starstruck and Bloodymary.
An idea inspired by this reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYphf2hkxCA/?igsh=M2MwYWV4cmJsd3Vj
Basically, for context: Tom and Ryland married quite young, long before Tom became world-famous in the film industry, but years go by and they get a divorce.
However, they end up on good terms (?)—they don't absolutely hate each other's guts. They are cordial and can interact peacefully whenever they run into each other on set. Mostly because they share custody of a little girl.
They are both parents to Laika, an adorable girl who loves her dads.
Tom is a present father, but Ryland has full custody since Tom's acting job prevents him from having a permanent residence. Plus, Tom hates the idea of Laika being exposed to the media and any chance of someone hurting her. It’s an agreement Ryland accepted, even though he wanted Tom to be able to enjoy Laika’s company more. Still, they usually see each other during the holidays and during Tom’s breaks.
Of course, the years apart drag on, and Ryland meets Simon.
They meet at an international conference on microbes and how they affect the environment (Laika is with Tom, who had a break from filming), Simon being a leading environmental engineer in his field.
Simon literally tripped over his own feet the moment he saw Ryland. And he gave him his phone number.
That’s how their friendship starts, and—after several months of back-and-forth, and discussing it with Tom—they end up dating.
A few years later, they get married.
And everything seems to be going great!
Of course, even though they’ve managed to blend their families well… watching Tom and Simon interact is absolutely hilarious.
It’s not that they hate each other, but they can be incredibly competitive. Laika mentioned to Tom on a video call that Simon takes her to her ballet classes? Tom takes up ballet lessons just so he won't be left behind.
Simon finds out that Laika loves Tom's bedtime stories because Tom does all the different voices? Ugh, Ryland catches his husband practicing his storybook voices with the neighbour’s cat.
Also, while respecting the boundaries of the divorce, both Tom and Simon absolutely love pampering Ryland.
The three of them try to support each other however they can, in their own way, especially because Laika loves all three of them equally.
And everything seemed amazing!
Until Simon gets a call from some bloke who actually had the audacity to demand a ransom for Ryland.
Like, it makes no sense, does it? Ryland is on short holiday with Laika and Colt in Los Angeles, since he’s giving some lectures at the university.
But he starts to worry more and more each hour, because he isn't getting any of the usual calls from Ryland or Laika asking him how things are going.
And, to make matters worse, Colt isn't replying to his texts either.
At first, he didn't pay much attention to it, but it gets worse because Tom also gets a call with the exact same message.
And, everything takes a turn for the worse for both of them, because Tom then also gets a call from a hospital saying Colt was found battered up in some unknown location.
(That day was his day off from work, so he also had planned to join Ryland and his daughter for a funny evening plan)
His (Tom’s) heart utterly sinks when—after seeing Simon come running down the hospital corridors—he hears the story of how Colt and Ryland were out for a walk with Laika, and from one moment to the next, they were fighting off a group of thugs.
Apparently, an extremist group was targeting Ryland because of some research he had published in a scientific journal. Colt had tried to flee with them both (Ryland and Laika), but the blokes beat him up and left him dumped there.
To top it all off, they both get bombarded with texts and emails showing that both Ryland and Laika have been kidnapped.
For the sake of the plot, Laika is rescued earlier, since Ryland prioritised her escape the moment there was a chance—but he wasn't as lucky.
So, you have a kidnapped Ryland, a husband who will do absolutely anything to get him back, and an ex-husband who still cares for him deeply, all trying to find a way to bring him back home.
So…new idea? I don't know. The thing is, out of nowhere I got completely immersed in a fanfic with the premise of a relationship between Ryland and Tom, and I thought…okay, these two have potential for various things.
Some background:
Colt hates Tom for many reasons. But, besides the obvious ones shown in canon… Tom is Ryland's ex-husband.
And yes, it was an ugly divorce.
Basically, a relationship destined to fail. But it lasted long enough to hurt.
Months and months of mediation, no agreements, Tom refusing to sign, Ryland using his entire arsenal of fury during Jean Cloude's custody hearings, "I'm keeping the china," "You live on fast food, why would you use the fine china for KFC," alimony payments niether of they didn't want to make, etc.
The years spent in the divorce process are almost equivalent to the years they were married.
That, plus the fact that Ryland was soon ostracized from academic circles, and that keeps his doctoral degree cost him almost all his dignity.
A truly awful mess.
And, the worst part for Colt wasn't even seeing his brother suffer through a failed marriage and a tortuous divorce… but also noticing how Tom was self-destructing after the divorce.
And he noticed it even more because he was his stunt double.
It took Ryland a couple of years of therapy to manage his emotions after the divorce. But, at least from what Colt heard during video calls, he seemed to be doing better and getting his life back on track as a children's science teacher.
But that was not Tom's case
It wasn't that Tom was the most stable—Ryland wasn't exactly a saint either, with his anger issues—but he seemed to genuinely love Tom, and Tom seemed to relax Ryland, at least during their happy years. But since the divorce, he seemed to be spiraling downward.
But I digress. The point is that, after years of not going to the set, Ryland decides to visit him for the first time at work.
And, as if fate wanted to mess with everyone… Tom decides that this time he wants to do his own stunts.
Sure, Ryland and Tom may have had a messy divorce, but still, we're talking about Ryland, he hates heights and seems to get sick watching his ex-husband dangling from an absurdly high ceiling…
Tom falls badly, on the edge of the safety mattress.
The set becomes a disaster in more ways than one. Colt had to grab Ryland and stop him from running after Tom, the emergency team tried to wake the injured man to assess the severity of his injuries, while Gail called an ambulance.
There, both Ryland and everyone else discovered two things:
Tom survived, but he was out of it while the ambulance took him away.
Ryland is still his emergency contact number.
His injuries are… very internal. I won't go into details.
The thing is, when Ryland is in the hospital, since Tom never changed the emergency contact information and still has medical authority over him, despite being officially his ex-husband, everything gets more complicated, as Tom remains unconscious even after the sedatives have been removed.
Gail tries to take charge, but she can't because legally, Ryland still has power over him. And Ryland refuses to let them do anything unusual to Tom.
Tom wakes up and the first thing he wonders is if something happened.
Of course, the doctors, Gail, and Ryland assume he's confused because of how sudden everything was, but they get nervous when they hear Tom asking about his husband and if they've been in a car accident.
The more questions Tom asks, and the fewer questions he answers, the more obvious the answer becomes: Tom doesn't remember the accident, he doesn't remember much about going to the hospital… and he certainly doesn't remember divorcing Ryland.
All he knows is that he's injured, his beautiful husband is with him, and that his brother-in-law hates him.
And yes, Tom didn't take the news that he's divorced well at all. And he seems very determined to win Ryland back.
Colt isn't an idiot; he'll use everything to his advantage: I mean, steal Tom's dog.
You can't judge him; Colt adores that dog. He even tried to steal it during the divorce, but Ryland—as much as he loved the idea—dissuaded him for fear that Tom's lawyers would use it against him.
Ahora… Tom está haciendo todo lo posible. Y, aunque lo niega rotundamente, se ha visto en el espejo. Es guapo. No sabe qué clase de idiota ha sido —sabe que Ryland es sexy, y él también—, pero si no se pone las pilas, algún imbécil intentará robarle a su (ex)marido en cualquier momento, para que Ryland decida dejarlo. Pero no dudará en luchar para recuperar a su amado esposo.
That girl, Iggy, who appeared out of nowhere at the damn hospital, claiming to be his girlfriend? Ha! Not anymore. He got rid of her.
He sold his Sydney apartment and will officially return to the United States.
That, and he started harassing Gail to get her to tell him all the stupid things he did during the divorce. Spoiler alert: he tried to throw himself down the stairs because of the secondhand rage he felt after reading the lawyers' report. Because yes, he also harassed his ex-lawyer to find out what the hell he did.
The doctors only have two pieces of news for him and Ryland: Physical therapy seems to be working well, but he needs to stay away from action movies for a while and take things slowly (taking a sabbatical was an option that even Gail was very keen to push); and the second is that his memory may or may not recover.
Now, Tom will do what he has to do.
And if that includes winning over a guy named Rocky, so he doesn't look at him like a rabid dog, he'll do it.
So…new idea? I don't know. The thing is, out of nowhere I got completely immersed in a fanfic with the premise of a relationship between Ryland and Tom, and I thought…okay, these two have potential for various things.
Some background:
Colt hates Tom for many reasons. But, besides the obvious ones shown in canon… Tom is Ryland's ex-husband.
And yes, it was an ugly divorce.
Basically, a relationship destined to fail. But it lasted long enough to hurt.
Months and months of mediation, no agreements, Tom refusing to sign, Ryland using his entire arsenal of fury during Jean Cloude's custody hearings, "I'm keeping the china," "You live on fast food, why would you use the fine china for KFC," alimony payments niether of they didn't want to make, etc.
The years spent in the divorce process are almost equivalent to the years they were married.
That, plus the fact that Ryland was soon ostracized from academic circles, and that keeps his doctoral degree cost him almost all his dignity.
A truly awful mess.
And, the worst part for Colt wasn't even seeing his brother suffer through a failed marriage and a tortuous divorce… but also noticing how Tom was self-destructing after the divorce.
And he noticed it even more because he was his stunt double.
It took Ryland a couple of years of therapy to manage his emotions after the divorce. But, at least from what Colt heard during video calls, he seemed to be doing better and getting his life back on track as a children's science teacher.
But that was not Tom's case
It wasn't that Tom was the most stable—Ryland wasn't exactly a saint either, with his anger issues—but he seemed to genuinely love Tom, and Tom seemed to relax Ryland, at least during their happy years. But since the divorce, he seemed to be spiraling downward.
But I digress. The point is that, after years of not going to the set, Ryland decides to visit him for the first time at work.
And, as if fate wanted to mess with everyone… Tom decides that this time he wants to do his own stunts.
Sure, Ryland and Tom may have had a messy divorce, but still, we're talking about Ryland, he hates heights and seems to get sick watching his ex-husband dangling from an absurdly high ceiling…
Tom falls badly, on the edge of the safety mattress.
The set becomes a disaster in more ways than one. Colt had to grab Ryland and stop him from running after Tom, the emergency team tried to wake the injured man to assess the severity of his injuries, while Gail called an ambulance.
There, both Ryland and everyone else discovered two things:
Tom survived, but he was out of it while the ambulance took him away.
Ryland is still his emergency contact number.
His injuries are… very internal. I won't go into details.
The thing is, when Ryland is in the hospital, since Tom never changed the emergency contact information and still has medical authority over him, despite being officially his ex-husband, everything gets more complicated, as Tom remains unconscious even after the sedatives have been removed.
Gail tries to take charge, but she can't because legally, Ryland still has power over him. And Ryland refuses to let them do anything unusual to Tom.
Tom wakes up and the first thing he wonders is if something happened.
Of course, the doctors, Gail, and Ryland assume he's confused because of how sudden everything was, but they get nervous when they hear Tom asking about his husband and if they've been in a car accident.
The more questions Tom asks, and the fewer questions he answers, the more obvious the answer becomes: Tom doesn't remember the accident, he doesn't remember much about going to the hospital… and he certainly doesn't remember divorcing Ryland.
All he knows is that he's injured, his beautiful husband is with him, and that his brother-in-law hates him.
And yes, Tom didn't take the news that he's divorced well at all. And he seems very determined to win Ryland back.
